2024-02-29: The Great Wayside Bake Sale

• Log: The Great Wayside Bake Sale
• Cast: Riesenlied, Emeralda Kasim, Whit Aomori, Hannah Curie, Chase, Lily Keil, Shige Kiwako, Jacqueline Barber, Elhaym van Houten, Avril Vent Fleur, Ida Everstead-Rey, Noeline, Cirea (cameo)
• Where: New Wayside
• Date: February 29, 2024
• Summary:Friends -- some old, some new -- and their Pokemon -- gather in Wayside. Riesenlied has a new goal.'

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<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        New Wayside!!

        New Wayside is a very young town that was formed after the end of the war with Mother. The rest of the Tainted Hyadeans -- a Hyadean underclass that was comprised of either damaged or ailing members, as well as those that've taken irreparable battle wounds in battle and discarded -- have worked hard to relocate and build a new community, situated between Adlehyde, Port Timney, and New Arctica.

        The town itself has a lot of the Outreach characteristics -- prefabricated, high-density buildings and old permanent stone fixtures refurbished into town halls, including a prominent inn and tavern, run by one Val, now minorly famed for her demon potato vodka.

        The port itself is seeing a lot of traffic, as a safe haven and pitstop between Ignas and Elru; there's an incredibly diverse mix of peoples bustling around, from the Tainted, to a number of Beastfolk who've found shelter here, to Arcticans, Azadians and Kilikans who've joined the Outreach in the wake of the attacks on their own settlements, as well as a lot of travelers and Drifters.

        Today... is a bake sale!!

        There's a cheerful colourful sign that says 'WAYSIDE OUTREACH BAKE SALE' made out of plywood and decorated by the children of the Fereshte orphanage. Below it are a half dozen tables with white tablecloths, with all kinds of baked goodies stacked up in baskets, including but not limited to:

        Cinnamon rolls!
        Chocolate custard donuts!
        Coconut slices!
        Lamingtons!
        Fudge brownies!
        Almond croissants!

        There's a sign that says 'baked goods free of charge, pay what you like in the Cucco Donation Jar', which is a semi-translucent round jar resembling the fearsome bird of malice.

        Riesenlied is already banned from stationing one of the stalls. The reason is evident because Mikaia nearby has a sign reading:

        MOM IS BANNED FROM WORK TODAY
        DO NOT LET MOM DO WORK

        So, she's seated in her wheelchair overlooking the bake sale with a smile on her face, dressed in her usual Baskar robes and with her cute capelet over her shoulders.

        Nearby, Val, the Tainted Hyadean with a Refrigerator for a torso, and Acting Mayor of New Wayside, is busy getting a band of Tainted Hyadeans whose bodies are their instruments to try to get their act together. There's one guy whose hands are cymbals, another that's replaced his lungs with an accordion...

        They're doing their Best (tm).

<Pose Tracker> Emeralda Kasim has posed.

Emeralda has been around.

Like, around everywhere.

She's taken to Nede with gusto, and has already explored several out-of-the-way locations and come back with a Pokemon, who she immediately named Echo and attempted to train; given her training is extremely non-standard, results were mixed, but she didn't let that get her down. She's of an age where anyone who sees her with a Pokeball assumes she's on her journey, anyway; Emeralda looks thirteen-ish and while her outfit is exotic, it's not that weird by Nedian standards.

She has also been wandering around Ignas when she can, because most of Emeralda's memories are on Aquvy, or Spira. She has explored less on her own, because Filgaia tends to be a bit more dangerous, but let's be honest; Emeralda can take care of herself, and is significantly less likely to get hurt than most adults, let alone most children.

But right now she is around New Wayside.

Emeralda insisted that she wanted to go to the bake sale, and so she is going to the bake sale. She is currently wandering here and there; she's sent messages to Janey and Mikaia more than once, remembering them from when she was younger; they've grown up a bit but so has she, though she did it all at once.

But she hasn't been back in a while, so it may be a bit of a surprise when she pops up near Mikaia. "Hi!" she says, brightly. "I like your sign. Signs like that are IMPORTANT." Emeralda is wearing her favourite black and red ... dress? Slightly cut-off shirt and skirt? Outfit, anyway, complete with long scarf, which she is still convinced is very cool. The Pokeball hanging off a loop of cloth is new though.

<Pose Tracker> Whit Aomori has posed.

It's not the low technology that Whit finds difficult to deal with in Filagaia, inconvenient though it is. And it's not the monsters, vicious as they are.

No, what concerns him most is the poverty, the need. He's done his best, dropping "gella" into begging bowls, but it's never enough. He's appalled at the destitution he sees.

So when he finds out about a bunch of people helping refugees and other desperate folks, he wants to find out more about them -- and perhaps write an article or two along the way! So Whit finds himself in New Wayside, coincidentally on the day of their Big Bake Sale. He surveys the table of baked goods, taking pictures of them and of people as he goes (with his subjects' permission, of course!). Chauncey the Ivysaur pads along behind him, surprisingly fast for such a squat, ungainly body design. It's a good chance for him to get some sunlight! He carefully selects an almond croissant and drops five gella in the Cucco jar. Then he looks around for a place to sit and eat. He doesn't want to get crumbs in his camera! And he tries not to stare at Val and the band. Visitors are strange, but having a refrigerator and musical instruments for actual BODY PARTS is EXTRA strange!

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Things have been... busy, lately, to say the least. Going to a space station on a rocket, getting flung across space, and learning to adapt to a whole new planet have been pretty time-consuming. The rifts opening up are both a blessing and a curse, to be sure, but handling matters on the three worlds has kept her busy. (Not to mention more unanticipated problems with her magic she has to contend with now.) She's been keeping in touch (thank you, Memory Cubes), but hasn't actually made the time to visit.

Until now.

Hannah's arrival is foresaged by a red-tailed hawk swooping out of the sky to land on the arm of Riesenlied's wheelchair. He chirps at her, joyously, before taking off to find Mikaia. Hannah herself works her way through the crowds and rushes up to Riesenlied to give her a big hug. "Miss Riesenlied! It's so good to see you!" She relents in the hug and stands up again. "Sorry I ain't made the trip sooner--things've been so busy but it's really good to see you again!" Hannah you already said that.

Hannah's changed into some ignas fashion--a green dress that she's hemmed to be way shorter, leggings, and a black hooded robe. Her hair's grown out a little, though it's still pink and curly. And of course, she's still got her trusty satchel and hiking boots.

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

The worlds beyond Energy Nede are an entirely different make than what Chase is familiar with. He learned quickly that fully free and supplied community centers were not common on Filgaia -- if they existed at all -- and that the resources needed for well being and basic survival were hard won. But Chase didn't get to start his Pokemon journey in earnest before everything went topsy-turvy, and what exactly a dash of harsh Filgaian survival adds to a young Pokemon trainer's growth remains to be seen...

Right now it's participation in a bake sale.

After visiting New Wayside and getting engulfed in the newness and diversity of it all, Chase, rarely speaking but often listening, and at the behest of a terribly curious Pikachu, sets up a small end of a table with his own offering. They're Poke Puffs: baked goods resembling cream puffs intended for Pokemon. Given that this is a special occasion, and for a good cause, Chase has put for a Supreme effort for his puffs today. Each is decorated with seasonal inspirations, from a pink blossoms for spring, to colorful dango for summer, leaves and nuts for autumn and chocolate and mint for winter. They're at least labeled with their own paper sign as 'Poke Puffs', with a small, as if reluctant, 'for Pokemon' note.

They're not unsafe for human consumption, but they're made for a Pokemon's sense of taste and nutrition. The intention is probably for anyone who has Pokemon (or perhaps other nonhuman critter companions) to be able to get their partners a snack... but Chase did taste test them himself.

Don't worry, Pikachu has found a croissant to distract him with before darting back off again.

Chase nibbles at it, watching with a smile as his Pikachu frolics to and fro. She greets everyone with a bright, "Piii pikachu!" and will accept any manner of petting or attention.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Lily Keil has had an interesting time lately; while she'd preferred to spend her time analyzing the situation in Nede, certain business in Filgaia--in Ignas--required her attention. It's at the same time nostalgic and unpleasant to be around the Kislev-Aveh war front... but Adelhyde is nice.

And so will be New Wayside. She hasn't seen the people there in a very long time, now. She's changed, since then...

But demon potato vodka is still good.

Riesenlied isn't allowed to work. Lily sees the sign and finds Mikaia's eyes to nod in approval. "Hey," she says, greeting the others, and picks up... A chocolate custard donut.

It will be gonne soon. The fifty gella she drops will not be gone as immediately. Hopefully.

She regards the Visitors here thoughtfully. Especially... Whit and Chase's Pikachu.

"Hmmm..."

She drops some more gella iin the jar and picks up a few more baked goods. For her Pokemon. "...Exploring?" she wonnders of Whit, and his camera.

Dog walks straight up to Pikachu meanwhile. Bark! Bark! :D

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige is both here and sober. Two things she wishes weren't true on some level. She's got that skittish cat look about her. Like she's trying to smile and not look like she's about to bolt at the same time.
 
 She doesn't have any baked goods with her. She's.. okay, but she's definitely more of a pub cook really. She does have her usual clanking collection, but for the most part she seems to be looking around at everything and everyone. Perfectly calm. Peeerfectly calm. Ignore that her tails are frazzled.
 
 She's making a clear effort to keep it under wraps for the most part though, hard as it is on her and her non-hazed psyche at least!

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Those who know her well are aware that Jacqueline Barber has several noticeable weaknesses. And of those weaknesses, one is incredibly relevant today-

Baked goods.

She has a great fondness for them, but she's never quite been able to cultivate the talent for making them herself. So, she's had to lean on the bakers in her life to supply her. Which means that naturally, today, when Jacqueline hears that New Wayside is hosting a bake sale...

Her path is clear. She must visit. Besides - it's been far too long since she's reached out to everyone. She's excited to see how everyone's doing.

And so, as the bake sale gets into full swing - Jacqueline rides in on the back of her chocobo, Remedy, who is currently pulling a cart full of crates, making present clinking noises back and forth.

"Hello, Riesenlied, Mikaia, Val, everyone. It's been far too long." Jacqueline greets cheerfully. She dismounts, giving Remedy a gentle pat and undoing her gear before offering a polite wave all around. "New Wayside really seems to be going strong. I'm really happy for everyone."

With that said, Jacqueline approaches the Cucco Donation Jar, pulling out her wallet and dropping several gella in before claiming some lamington.

"I'm not much of a baker myself, but I wanted to make some sort of contribution... Feel free to take what you'd like from Remedy's cart." Jacqueline offers.

Inside the crates it turns out, when examined - are jars of different kinds of jam! Some of the contents are typical of Filgaia... but there are also more exotic ones, too, with ingredients sourced from Lunar and even Energy Nede.

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
Elly went to the Energy Nede and explored somewhat, mostly, of course, with Emeralda. Elly felt a peculiar worry about actually pursuing her own 'catching' on that place, perhaps because so many of the Pokemon she might have caught have such big eyes.

Returning to Ignas, of course, was in the cards once the way was clear. ("That's awfully convenient. I suppose we can't rely on it, though...")

Was it to do something in the ruins of Lahan...? No. That place is gone.

It was to check up on...

THE HOUSE IN ADELHYDE!!!

Anyway, Elly is here now.

"Oh my goodness," Elly says as she steps up to the stall, flanking Emeralda. Her eyes are all but sparkling. "I don't even know what half of these are--!!"

Look, Mikaia! An easy mark.

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

        Soon, Avril and the Vanguard will head east to Elru. But for now, she is here in Wayside. Afterall, she is a part of the Outreach as well!

        Though let it be said that Avril is only tending to a booth. Avril was very carefully prevented from baking anything, because while she has some skill with cooking (honed by her travels with her friends) her skill at baking is... sub-par at best. The last time anyone in Wayside had her cookies, they had turned out partially raw which even the Hyadeans probably didn't care for. And we won't even talk about the disaster that was the manju. But selling things to visitors...

        ...is definitely something that the once and future queen can manage, it would seem.

        Avril is selling cookies! That someone else made! (It might have been Rebecca. Or maybe even Dean or Kaguya!). They're sugar cookies, and they're cut out into the shapes of little birds and are very, very cute.

        Probably, maybe, they might be okay for Pokemon to have. As a treat, that is.

        The sign says 'SUGAR COOKIES - 40 GELLA'. Probably, Avril did the lettering because it's quite neatly painted. Her gaze sweeps the crowd, as if searching for someone.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        Ida's passed through New Wayside before, but this is her first time truly coming to visit. Now that she can spend more than a few hours here, she can better appreciate the unique community that's come together under the auspices of the Outreach. Fortuitously, there's a Bake Sale going on!

        Ida left a donation in the jar--significant, but not lavish--and collected a chocolate croissant. She nibbles on the pastry as she passes between the stalls. In Filgaian garb--boots, jeans, a weathered duster, and button-down shirt--she blends in a bit. The creatures in her company, less so. Many Filgaians would be hard-pressed to recognize an Eevee as anything more than 'some kind of weird fox, maybe?', but there's two of them following along with Ida. One of them is wearing a little scarf, and looking in wonder at everything and everyone nearby. The other is at Ida's side, and seems a bit more cautious. A large, violet-and-white butterfly(?!) sits on Ida's shoulder.

        'Piii pikachu!'

        Sal's antenna perk up. "Free?" She trills in delight, and darts off through the crowd to find Phwee! The first thing she does... is do a little loop-de-loop in front of her friend, celebratory and proud.

        MEANWHILE

        "...Evoi? Evoi!" The inquisitive Eevee (Marigold, for the record) has found the ringmistress of this event. Marigold peers up at Riesenlied with big, cheerful eyes. Ida casts a glance Salwards (Sal is fine, she'll come back once she's done playing with Phwee) and hurries on up. "Riesenlied!" Ida says, reaching down to scoop Marigold up. (Aurora, the other Eevee, comes to a heel at Ida's side, and grooms her paw.) "It's so good to see you again--and Val, and everyone else. I didn't know you were having a bake sale today." Pause. "Ah. This is Marigold, and this is Aurora, and Sal is off cavorting with one of her friends." Ida has new pets??? How many does this make?

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        Noeline is not immediately at Riesenlied's side as the bake sale starts for two reasons - one of which is profound and deep and terribly important to her.

        Much like New Arctica, New Wayside is both wonderfully familiar and also a place she has been away from for literal years and a complete change of location. It'll take time for her to get used to the new town, for her feet to truly learn the lay of the land, and for her to truly feel like she's part of it once again rather than just a member of the Fereste in specific. And the only way to do that is to experience the place as fully as she can.

        The other is terribly simple - when she returns to Riesenlied's side it is with a pair of paper plates balanced one on each hand, with a large sampler of different things for the two of them. She was always aware of Mikaia's plan from the get-go, and is determined to follow through with it on her end.

        ... she seems to have rather conscientiously bought at least one thing from as many stalls as she can. Which means that she has also picked up a couple of Poke Puffs along the way. Surely that won't go badly. Maybe she can just feed them to Dog later.

        Noeline has time to share a terribly proud smile with Riesenlied and then send a warm one in Lily's direction before she simply stops dead, a thought taking over her brain. "Are you suggesting," she says slowly to Jay, one plate waggled in lieu of a finger, "That bakery is not a form of alchemy?"

        In any other situation they'd have a picnic blanket out, but now that they're back at Wayside they can upgrade to a light, outdoor table and the blanket draped across it like a tablecloth - which means she has a deckchair placed to sit down next to Riese rather than below her, blinking slowly as she takes in the entire scene. She's up on the news regarding Nede, but this is the first time she's seen Pokemon. "Is it just me, or did everyone suddenly get pets?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        "Emmm!!" Mikaia cheerfully beams, waggling the sign around as she does so. Her little black wings wiggle up and down in excitement, as she says, "How've you been? Have you learnt any cool new things to turn into?"

        Whit obtains an almond croissant! Several people look with wonder at his Ivysaur, but no one really looks alarmed; indeed, the musical band certainly is unusual, but they're trying their best as they launch into what sounds like parade music... with heart.

        Zephyr swoops down to rest by her wheelchair! Riesenlied chuckles to say, "Goodness me, I hope you are well, Zephyr." Mikaia isn't terribly far, and ever ready to treat birds, she has a few seeds to spoil him with. "Good Zephyr! Have you met Em?"

        Riesenlied redoubles her cheer when she sees Hannah, drawing her arms up carefully (dragon arm and all) to hug around her! "Goodness, but I am full glad to see you all again, Hannah. I was worried sick beside myself. You look well! Please, have a treat, if you have not eaten already."

        The Hyadean also spots Chase! His clothes make her wonder if he is one of the Nedians she's heard from the Memory Cube messages; his companion, too, is a curious sort -- and Dog's come to say hello!

        "Welcome," Riesenlied decides to greet him herself. "My name is Riesenlied. Your Poke Puffs look wonderful... I have not seen such treats before. Is that your... Pokemon with you, the yellow being?"

        Riesenlied has been with Lily to investigate Kislev, as she promised -- but it's still nice to see her here; breaks are, after all, important. "Lily," she smiles brightly. "Thank you for your analysis the other day."

        Mikaia starts to give her the stink-eye.

        Riesenlied sweats and says, scratching her cheek, "We both could use a day off. Let me know if you would like anything else."

        Shige's arrival gets Riesenlied perking up -- but given the skittishness of the cat, she opts to give her a wave and lets her process at her own time, knowing that this isn't the easiest thing in the world for her.

        Jacqueline's weakness! Just ONE MORE lamington...

        Her arrival is grand indeed, and it's with some cheer from the local quartermasters, who she invariably know already. "Jacqueline! And Remedy, too," she gently reaches up to pat the chocobo on the side of her head.

        "Yes, even with our absence, the people here truly have done their all to make it a wonderful, flourishing place," Riesenlied agrees. Her eyes widen at the various jams Jay has brought. "Are these from 'Nede' as well? I have not seen the likes of some of these."

        "Miiiiiss Ellyyy," Mikaia beams brightly with a put-on haughty voice, winking to Em, "Please feel free to have anything your heart desires! We're only asking for the low low price of what your heart is willing to give."

        Maybe Jay's mercantile nature is rubbing off a bit on Mikaia.....

        The Manju Incident, which no one wants to talk about, even at their best... or their worst. Riesenlied is pleased to have Avril here, and her sugar cookies are sure to be a hit!! Even if Dean and/or Rebecca made them.

        "Please do not forget to have some treats too, Avril," Riesenlied calls out to her.

        And Ida!! Riesenlied looks just as happy to see her as she does Hannah -- she's been terribly worried about her, after all. And she has new companions with her... these must be more of the 'Pokemon' that she's now seen a few of.

        "Ida!" she calls in turn. "Goodness, but you have a multitude of companions with you now. They are all very lovely. Sal, Marigold, Aurora..." she tries to commit their names to memory. "I hope the treats are to your liking."

        Riesenlied lights up as Noeline returns, with samplers from the bake sale! She doesn't immediately reach for one herself, but she does look tempted. But as Noeline points out that suddenly everyone has pets, she does ponder:

        "I wonder if there are any very, very round Pokemon."

        Round Nepotism!! This is your time to shine!!

<Pose Tracker> Whit Aomori has posed.

Whit has found a place to sit and eat. He puts his camera carefully away in its case and offers Chauncey a nibble of croissant (a regular size nibble, not an Ivysaur-bite-sized chunk!). A little bit won't hurt him. He catches Lily's eye and nods a greeting. Oh, yes, he's exploring! There are so many new things to see! He gingerly finishes the croissant and wipes his fingers on a handy napkin. Can't smear his lenses, after all! He spots Chase's table -- actually, the first thing he notices is Chase's Pikachu! -- and heads over. "Come, on, Chauncey, let's get you a snack!"

"Hello!" he greets Chase. "Can I get one of every seasonal flavor? And do you take gella, or do you prefer FOL?" He stops to pet the Pikachu -- she seems to like it -- and Chauncey responds with a jealous "SAUR!" Whit pays for the Poke Puffs whichever way Chase indicates, and feeds one to the Ivysaur immediately. Chauncey is still jealous but takes the treat. Whit wraps the rest in the napkin, then in his left front pocket, for later, and re-hefts his camera.

<Pose Tracker> Emeralda Kasim has posed.

Emeralda is definitely pleased to see Mikaia again. "I've been great! There's so many places to go and so many things to see these days. I've learned a few things, but I still haven't really figured out 'dragon'... not all the way, anyway..."

Not for lack of trying.

"I've actually been, uh... trying to teach someone else..." Emeralda reaches down and snags her Pokeball. "Have you see these yet? I mean, you must have! There's a bunch of Pokemon already here, they're like friendly monsters - I mean they're not all friendly, but a lot of them are... Not the same as the bird." She saw Zephyr now, but she's never seen Zephyr before. "That's a pretty bird," she says, approvingly. "Anyway, this is Echo!" Emeralda releases her Pokemon, which is...

A Ditto.

"Say hi, Echo," Emeralda says, and Echo shifts for a moment, turns more or less the same colour pattern as Emeralda - black and red over the middle, brown above and below, green on top - but still mostly of blob-shaped and lets out a "Ditto!" in what is very close to Emeralda's voice.

"Echo's still learning... I'm trying to teach her better." Emeralda considers a moment, then says, "Hey, Echo! Show them your Voltorb!"

Well, Riese did ask for a round Pokemon, and Echo does become very round - in fact, the Ditto looks exactly like a Voltorb, except in green and black instead of red and white. She's trying!! (And Echo, like all Dittos, is technically not a she, but she seems to accept it from Emeralda.)

Echo rolls gently to one side before Emeralda scampers a little bit to pick the Pokemon up. "Does this mean I can have a brownie?" she asks Elly. "I have some gella! Wait, hold on, this is Lunar silver..." Emeralda doesn't empty her pockets very much. (Not that she appears to have pockets at all.)

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Pikachu's ears shoot straight up. "Piii pika!" She runs a happy circle around Dog. And then there is... Butterfree. Pikachu stops and looks up. Her eyes go big and sparkle, and then she jumps up and down, cheeks sparking in her own overexcited celebration. "PiKA!" Then she points at Sal as she looks to Dog. "Pikapi ka."

She's introducing them(?).

Chase is calm as he watches, but slowly his brow knits into deep consideration. There are so many creatures on this planet that aren't Pokemon, but seem Pokemon-like... The fact that Drifters have taken to Pokemon companions they way they have speaks volumes about how different Pokemon are from the native wildlife, though.

...Yet some already have close animal companions. An unusually small bird of prey. Large flightless birds with only one head. 'Horses', like Joy caught. That new friend his Pikachu is making resembles a Poochyena somewhat, but it is... clearly not that. Chase will have to figure out the new patterns and differences.

He blinks up at Whit greets him, as if stunned back into reality. He gives a small nod and collects the Poke Puffs requested, but when asked on payment Chase pauses. He considers, and then he points to the Cucco Donation Jar.

Riesenlied greets him with friendliness instead of business, which is a little scarier. He gives her a reticent nod. The 'yellow being' leaps up to do a 180 degree turn and waves at Riesenlied with her whole arm. "Piii pikachu pi chachu!" she shouts before making another spinning hop back to her friends. There is a brief moment that Chase remembers he can show his Trainer ID to introduce himself.

Then Riesenlied mentions round Pokemon and Chase's thought train leaps entirely off of the track and expertly lands on an entirely new one. He has his Pokedex out instead, offering it to Riesenlied to submit to her a specific entry: National Dex 0363 Spheal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoGQ85rsrkI

Chase is still holding half a croissant in his mouth.

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Hannah smiles and tosses a wave to Lily when she spots her. "Howdy, Lily. How ya doin'?"

She smiles as she sees Ida, giving her a small wave as she walks up. "Howdy, Ida. How you been?" She kneels down to offer pets to Marigold and Aurora. "Howday gals. Been a minute since I seen either of you. And how's Sal doin'--" she pauses and then looks over past Ida to see--

A butterfree.

"Well now. Is that Sal? Congrats!"

There's a big grin at Noeline as she sees her approach, "Miss Noeline!" She chuckles softly at the question of pets. "Well, kinda. It's... well, it's part of the whole culture of Energy Nede. With Pokemon, an' all. I've got a few myself."

She doesn't have the pokeballs on her belt right at this moment, but she pulls out three red and white balls from her bag and tosses them out. "Here's Agapi an' Eimi..." Out pops a Caterpie and a Weedle. The weedle has a bandanna tied around--well, where one might imagine a neck to be--which has four solid colored stripes on it.

"Cater, caterpie!" "Wee-weedle."

"An' Ida, I don't think you've met Cassandra yet." A larger, quadrapedal creature, with mostly white fur and a curved horn from one side of her head pops out.

"Ab! Absol!"

Agapi seems to be sticking close to Eimi for support, but Absol turns and starts to sniff about curiously at the new surroundings. "Y'all stay where I can see ya."

Zephyr chirps happily to Mikaia and takes the seeds, then turns his head to look at Emeralda. He tilts his head a little and chirps questioningly. Then gives what might be a little shake of his head.

"I tell ya it was all mighty worryin' on our end too, tell you what." Riese suggests food, and Hannah nods. "Been travelin' all day, so I'm a might famished, honestly. But I can get somethin' in a minute, after we're done catchin' up."

Zephyr is a handsome bird--but will take any compliment, really! He chirps happily at Emeralda and then looks curiously to Emeralda's ditto. He gives Echo a chirp, too.

<Pose Tracker> Lily Keil has posed.

Lily is wry at Mikaia's reaction. "You're welcome, but it seems that this break is mandated." Lily is fine with that; she could use a chance to recover her energy, after that business with Loren Voss. She's physically healed, but...

Still has plans to make, too.

She nods back to Whit, eyeing his Ivysaur. Interesting creature!

But Round Pokemon? Lily considers for a moment, and pulls a Pokeball from her bag. "This Pokemon is very round," she says, and points it to the ground; out pops an adorable--

"Clefairy!"

"...She's seeking revenge against a demon who attacked her home. Between the two of us, we'll grow strong enough for her to get it."

Clefairy twirls, and starts to dance.

Dog happily turns and turns as Pikachu runs around her, and then looks up to Sal the Butterfree with a cheerful bark! Her tail is wagging wildly.

She nods back to Hannah, too. "I'm fine. How are you?"

"Cle-fai-ry o/~"

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
"Oh, goodness," Elly demurs at Mikaia's sales pitch. "When you put it like that... I could simply help myself, couldn't I? But if you aren't asking for a particular price... mmm..."

Oh no, she's indecisive!! Elly turns her head to look towards others for a moment. Ida gets a smile, although Elly eyeballs her new... companions for a moment.

Elly reaches into her dress pocket, though. Before --

Emeralda reveals the Ditto.

Elly stops for a moment and looks at Echo. Her eyes half-narrow for a moment, and it might be menacing, except - "ah!" - it seems she got something going on. "You know, I think I understand what Echo is trying to do," Elly muses to Emeralda, before there is a compulsion. A command to become...

                R O U N D . . .

Elly gazes upon the Voltorb. "Oh, that's so lovely!" she says, clapping her hands twice to encourage the Ditto, which, however unsettling in the corner of her eye at times, is, after all, part of the family now. "I wonder how Echo will like Chaya when we introduce them," Elly mentions -- Mikaia and Emeralda would, of course, know of the chimera that Elly came upon.

ON THE KARLSEFNI:

"Bro," says Hammer, as he looks at the three-headed creature, now the size of a golden shepherd and situated in a bag of freeze-dried potatoes. "You don't even eat that stuff."

Chaya whines in stereo, having eaten a kilogram of freeze dried potatoes. The snake-head horks out some of them.

BACK HERE:

Elly sets down five times a good market price for a cinnamon roll. "One of these, please," Elly says, indicating the delicious treat. "And -- give me the brownie, too." (To Emeralda, she says, "Money changing," as she holds out a hand to receive the Lunar silver in exchange for, implicitly, the Gella.)

Once treated up, Elly breaks off a piece of the cinnamon roll to offer to Emeralda and/or Echo -- before turning her head to look at the manifestation of the Spheal.

Elly's eyes widen slightly. Then they flick, with a ghost of concern, for Riesenlied. Will this level of roundness really be okay--!? Especially when Clefairy, rather rounded if not nearly as round, appears next.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Riesenlied reaches up to pat Remedy, who responds with a delighted 'kweh!', nuzzling her head into her hand briefly. Jacqueline smiles with a small chuckle, before offering Riesenlied a smile too.

"They really have. I can tell how much heart has been put into this place." She says, and then nods. "Some of them, yes! There offerings are truly remarkable."

And then... Noeline teases her. Jacqueline lets out a sheepish laugh.

"Well... there are definitely a lot of similarities in the field, but..." She starts. "...I'm afraid it's the one field of alchemy I just haven't been able to master."

Still - she's very pleased to see that Mikaia's learning the right lessons from her. She sends her a subtle, approving nod.

She watches with a small laugh, then, as people begin to show off round Pokemon to Riesenlied. A whole new world of round creatures... She doesn't have any of her own, so she holds off. While she's watching this, though, Remedy gets curious, and strays toward Chase's table. Realising her companion isn't next to her, Jacqueline looks that way then quickly follows her to where Remedy is eying the Poke Puffs intently.

"Are you interested in trying one?" Jacqueline asks. Remedy spares a glance, and the meaning is clear. With a smile, Jacqueline once again rummages for some gella, placing it into the jar and taking a Poke Puff, offering it to Remedy. She carefully snags it in her beak, downs it... and then lets out a pleased 'kweh!' Jacqueline laughs.

"I think she likes them - thank you." She offers to Chase.

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        "Oh, Hannah," Ida says, turning to her friend as she approaches. "I've been well. Spending a lot of time in Nede, working..." Marigold is all too happy to let Hannah pet her; she nuzzles against her hand with a sound of delight that's not quite a purr. Aurora is a bit more standoffish, but doesn't flinch, or back away. "Yes, that's her!" Ida positively beams. "She... evolved while protecting me from one of the Wise Men's Pokemon. I'm so proud of her."

        Ida's gaze falls upon Cassandra as she appears, and is introduced. Her brow furrows; she doesn't recognize the species, but smiles nevertheless. "Hello, Cassandra." More Pokemon! Emmy's Ditto, Echo! Lily's Pokemon! "Is this a Pokemon convention now?" says Ida, her tone suggesting she's kidding--but that she wouldn't mind at all if that's the case.

        MEANWHILE...

        Sal trills in delight. Having shown off a bit, she flutters forward and gives Pikachu as big a hug as she can manage with her tiny Butterfree arms. "Butterfree?" Sal glances down at Dog, antennae twitching. She taps her chest, points at Dog, and nods at Pikachu. They've met! Sal was just a Caterpie back then, but they've met! (The question: does Dog remember Sal? Does she recognize her?)

        "That's Pikachu," Ida says, smiling brightly. "She's adorable." She lets Chase introduce himself via Trainer ID--Ida is quietly thankful he seems to have found a means to do so that's comfortable.

        "Free!" Sal trills, as she flutters back Idawards. She's carrying an entire stack of Poke Puffs, which is something to behold.

        "Oh, thank you, Sal," Ida says. "These are Chase's, right?" Sal trills, and nods. Ida takes most of the pile, leaving Sal with a Puff of her choice before distributing the rest among the nearby Pokemon. Then...

        Spheal.

        "Aa," Ida says, going a little starry-eyed herself. "It's so precious, how does it even live?"

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

There's a few times it looks like Shige's gone and she's about to walk off. Though she finds other excuses to not do so. Torn between trying to force herself to stay. Bail and do something else easier like confronting any of the myriad of angry ghosts she could fish up, maybe even just a dragon. The usual things.
 
 She does finally decide on a middle ground though. While she's cut back considerably. She does take a moment to pull a flask from her satchel. She messes with it for a moment, torn on the idea before taking a long pull from whatever's inside.
 
 she does look vaguely defeated, but it also seems like it might have helped as she carefully replaces it. It's not like she killed a handle this time..
 
 She might have been counting something too!
 
 When she finally gets her thoughts in order, she makes her way over towards the sale properly. Fingers clenched under her poncho like she's doing it for warmth and not because she's digging claws in either way.
 
 She does offer a wave to a few familiar faces. She even tries a nervous wave to Riese. She still wants to apologize for her reaction last time and it's.. she's working her way up to it. At least it was an open wave!
 
 The various pokemon are a lot easier for her to focus on and she does just that though, reminded that she should have tried to pick one or two up. Also reminded that she wanted to help a few people out and.. it actually helps having her mind wander. And seeing the easier reactions to it all!
 
 She's not quite up to speaking just yet though. She's not sure if anything she'd say would come out coherent. Baby steps though!
 
 It's why she's stopping and starting towards the proprietor!

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

        "Ah, Riesenlied!" Avril calls out, lifting a hand to wave in a way that can only be called, well, regal. "Please, do not worry. I shall be trading with Kaguya soon!" They had offered to take turns, even though Avril had tried to insist that it was only fair that she take care of the booth, since Rebecca did the mixing and baking, and Dean did the decorating, and Kaguya had gathered the ingredients to start with. But she had been overruled, especially when they'd pointed out that she'd done the booth design and lettering on the signs...

        But it isn't such a bad thing sometimes, to be overruled. Besides, there are things she wants to try on sale as well!

        "Rat," says a particular Pokemon from beneath the white sheets covering the booth's table. Snuffling, Nina the Rattata comes trundling out from the darkness of the underbooth, apparently having scented fellow friendly Pokemon.

        "Tta," she enunciates, zeroing in on the gathering. Somewhat cautiously, she reaches out a paw as if to more closely inspect the more mysterious of the 'Pokemon' gathered here --

        Remedy the Chocobo.

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        Catching sight of Emeralda, Noeline chuckles to herself. She's not exactly sure what to make of a Pokemon that can turn into other things, though she can at least be sure that if she were going to trust something like that to anyone's hands, it'd be hers. "I'm sure we can sort out an exchange rate," she reassures.

        "... are you sure you would even need a Pokemon? If you just introduce cuccos to the Nedian biosphere I'm sure they would be dominant in weeks, if not days," Noeline starts to say to her partner as she places the plates between them - and it turns out they aren't strictly 'one each' so much as just there to be shared between them. But she suspects anything she could say might be much too late; there are already several pristine examples for Riesenlied to glee over, and there's a brief moment where she fears the Cucco Queen might make a new advent.She leans over as the Spheal gets shown off to Riesenlied. Her attention is not so much on the Pokemon itself as the means by which it has been catalogued. "... interesting," she hums to herself at the sight of the Pokedex, and sounds like she approves of it. "Are these devices common? Or-- no, not every entry is filled in. But surely someone has a central repository of information established by now?"

        Noeline is rarely as huggy as Riesenlied is, but she can at least offer Hannah an arm around her as she leans across in her chair. "It's good to see you well," she responds, before watching with curiosity as Hannah pulls out her own Pokemon. Whatever she was expecting, Weedle isn't it, and she blinks slowly. "... ... are you sure that 'Pokemon' doesn't simply stand for 'any non-human creature'?" she ventures after a moment.

        Lily gets a very blank look as Noeline does her best to reconcile a tragic backstory with dance. "Please make sure you are not projecting onto the Pokemon," she cautions after a longer pause. It's deadpan, but at least her tongue is firmly in her cheek.

        She's less prone to Round, so she just gives Ida a rather glum look, determined to play the deadpan here. "I am quite sure it simply bounces," she grumbles, aware that her words may not be reaching Riesenlied right now. Maybe Avril noting that Kaguya is here might reach her instead. "... I'm glad to hear it," she notes genuinely towards the Veruni with a smile. "Are all of you doing well enough?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        "I'm sure you'll get there! The Dragon-head already looked really cool," Mikaia encourages Emeralda. She looks terribly curious when Emeralda shows her the Pokeball, though. "No, I haven't... wow, so that's Pokemon?"

        Emeralda introduces Echo!

        Riesenlied looks on curiously at the blob, which starts to change colour -- and then... transforms into a Voltorb!

        "T-that is exceedingly round!" Riesenlied exclaims with her hand on her cheek, suddenly holding a sign reading 'Round / 10.0' out of nowhere, because she has become a comic relief character.

        "Oh, don't worry too much about what kinda money," Mikaia advises Em. "We work with gil and silver and even this new-fangled FOL!" A pause. "I'm not sure what that stands for. Fabulous Office Life?"

        Pikachu is certainly just gosh darn adorable! Riesenlied has no complaints, even if she's biased. She brightly clasps her hands together to say, "Oh, I see, I see... mmm, yes, so your name is Pikachu, and that is your trainer..."

        Well, it didn't take long for the empath to just start communicating with Pokemon.

        But-- uh oh. Chase has a gift for her -- a picture on her Pokedex, a picture of a...

        ...

        REALITY

        Riesenlied has stopped functioning for about five seconds.

        SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE HIGHER REALMS

        The spirit of Riesenlied has been rocketed out of her body and has become integrated into the very vestments of the world. She reaches up to cup her hands, and speaks in a loud booming voice for all the shadowy Gods that Calamity do so loathe, for all the existences that exist between wave and particle, for all those who reside between perception and non-perception, who has transcended worldly desire and achieved Nirvana, for all the Guardians to possibly hear:

        "MY GOODNESS, BUT SPHEAL IS ROUND."

        BACK IN REALITY

        Riesenlied snaps out of her reverie as Mikaia pokes her on the cheek. "Mom, mom, you're having your entire world view challenged again..."

        "Y-yes. Thank you, Mikaia," Riesenlied clears her throat, then smiles back to Chase. "Spheal... I--I must meet such a wonderful being!"

        I'm sorry, Voltorb-Echo. Round Nepotism is at work here.

        Lily, too, is not to be outdone on the impromptu roundness competititon (??). Riesenlied was certainly not expecting Lily to have Pokemon herself! She gasps as the Pokeball pops out and--

        Clefairy!

        "Goodness me, but she is also round," Riesenlied cannot deny the truth of the matter. A pause, as the Fairy-ness of Clefairy starts to twinge upon some of her empathic senses. "... mmm. Mm. Lily will take good care of you, of that I have no doubt. Take heart and gain valour from your goal, but do not let vengeance consume you whole."

        Hannah, too, has a companion! Riesenlied has absolutely no issue with less than round companions. In fact, she's kind of overstimulated at cute pets right now, probably. They're all so cute and she wants to hug them all!!

        "Caterpie... Weedle... these are native insects to Nede? They are quite large, compared to the ones in Filgaia," Riesenlied muses. And Cassandra... there's a quiet smile at her as she says, "... I know it must be difficult. But you have someone who will listen now."

        "Absolutely. Thank you for your business, miss Elly!" Mikaia puts on her most lethal smile, wiggling her wings while she's at it. This girl's truly become a force to be reckoned with!!

        A pause. "Who is Chaya?"

        "The Wise Men have Pokemon as well...?" Riesenlied sounds surprised, as Ida brings up the topic. But she does turn to Sal to smile and say, "Thank you for protecting Ida. She is one of my best friends."

        "I think if mom sees even more cute things in one place, she might burst again..." Mikaia admits to Ida.

        Riesenlied nods quietly at Jacqueline, though her expression softens gently. "I have... heard good news from Adlehyde, but I have not returned yet. I am a bit too anxious too, still, so I would ask you too how the city fares..."

        Being back here, joyful as it is, is reminding her of the sins of the past.

        Mikaia grins to say, "Well, I heard Miss Lunata say she got interested in soups and sauces because it's like alchemy. In a way, she was inspired by you too, Miss Jay!"

        Riesenlied does quietly nod to Shige, tilting her head. But before she says something, Val -- the Refrigerator-torsoed Tainted -- has moved near to go, "Heyyy sunshine! You're lookin' pretty wound up there! I can smell some mighty fine from that flask o' yours there. Can I interest ya in some of my own?"

        Riesenlied mouths a 'be gentle' to Val, who waves her clamp-shaped arms at her.

        Avril will be trading SUGAR COOKIES with Kaguya. "Oh, I see! I had seen Dean and Rebecca earlier, but I suppose they are busy... I hope your venture goes well. Please take some of these treats to them too, free of charge."

        She has not caught wind of Nina the Rattata.

        "D-do not disparage the Cucco so!" Riesenlied protests to Noeline. "I am sure they would coexist amicably..." There is a bit of doubt in her voice, but she does, at least, start nibbling on a cookie. Noeline ponders the nature of the Pokedex, but Riesenlied is simply too distracted by the contents to ponder the nature of the technology.

        "You seem a bit dour about them, Noeline. Are they not adorable?" Riesenlied gives her partner a heartfelt peer towards them.

        Riesenlied used BABY-DOLL EYES on Noeline!

        ... she might be overstimulated at this point, yes.

<Pose Tracker> Emeralda Kasim has posed.

"One day I'll manage a whole dragon!" Emeralda says, firmly. She's absolutely sure she can. Some day. Just... not yet, apparently. Though she's getting closer.

Echo is good at turning into things... but, not entirely great at staying that way, as when Elly claps her hands, Echo kind of sags back into a Ditto-shape rather than remaining nice and round. "Aw," Emeralda says, but then: "Yeah! She likes to try to copy me. That's why I'm trying to teach her... and why she's called Echo. Even if she doesn't say anything but 'Ditto'."

"Ditto?"

"No, that's not a problem!" Emeralda ruffles... well it's not hair, on Echo, but it's the same kind of vibe.

She remains holding Echo in the crook of her arm - Dittos aren't very big when they're not pretending to be bigger. They're not very heavy either; even though Emeralda is a lot stronger than she looks, she wouldn't need to be to carry Echo around. Echo wiggles around for a better look at Zephyr, having never seen a hawk before, though thankfully Echo decides to remain not bird shaped.

Emeralda trades Lunarian silver for gella, so she can trade the gella for a brownie - and then she trades little bits of the brownie for bits of cinnamon roll. They're a very collective family, apparently.

Having distributed everything around, Emeralda debates giving Zephyr one but isn't sure if birds are allowed to have chocolate, so changes her mind at the last moment. But she does add, "Pokemon are... um... well they're like monsters, I guess? Just that a lot of them are friendly."

She looks over at Chase, and though she hasn't met him, she knows what a Pokedex is: "See? He's got an index for them! That means he's officially going around and exporing. I'm kind of unofficial."

A brief aside: "Chaya's a chimera! He's cute." Emeralda has a broad understanding of what counts as 'cute'.

<Pose Tracker> Whit Aomori has posed.

Whit moves toward the cluster of people -- and Pokemon, and one very large yellow running bird, plus a smaller, handsome bird -- near Riesenlied and Noeline. "Hi!" he introduces himself. "I'm Whit, Whit Aomori! Mind if I take pictures of you and your Pokemon -- and whatever creature that is!?" (indicating the chocobo). If given permission, he takes plenty of pictures. "Pleasure to meet you all," he murmurs as he does. He sidles closer to Riesenlied. "Are you the lady in charge? Can you tell me more about your, your people? The Wayside Outreach," he clarifies. Not that he'd mind learning more about Hyadeans, either! "I've heard you do humanitarian work here. I'd like to help!" But he's very new here...

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Riesenlied understands Pikachu perfectly, and, well, Pikachu is a simple creature. She likes being a Pikachu and having a trainer, and that's about the size of that. Pikachu smooshes her own cheeks with her paws. "Piii pika~."

And Pikachu is all too happy to make sounds and wag her tail back at Dog. She is also all too happy to give Butterfree Sal a hug, although her arms aren't much better suited to the task. Well, that's fine! That's what nuzzling is for!! Once Sal returns to Ida, Pikachu runs another circle around Dog in further inspection. In what might be a mistake, she attempts to climb onto Dog's back and perch there.

Now others are releasing their Pokemon in rapid succession. Each time Chase spots a new Pokemon around, the tension in his shoulders gets a little looser. This is more than he expected to see today. Is it because the Drifter community has befriended that many, or are they starting to branch out into Filgaia? He hopes they're adapting all right, if that's the case...

Lily mentions her Clefairy is after revenge. Chase's expression dims and sharpens. Mt. Moon... A Pokeball on his belt warms, and perhaps only Riesenlied may have to deal with the brief sense of hellish rage that comes from it. Chase sets his hand on it, and it calms again.

There are at least Poke Puffs for each of them. Chase smiles at what he doesn't know yet is a chocobo. Not a Pokemon, but the quick communication between Remedy and Jay does not escape Chase's notice. But he watches Remedy's reaction with intent, then brightens up with a broad smile as she takes to it happily. Chocobos like Poke Puffs. This is critical information.

But there's a ~ ROUND CONTEST ~

His submission of Spheal sends Riesenlied to where Chase assumes his head is at most hours of the day and that he checks in to reality from. But Noeline mentions the entries aren't filled and Chase looks scolded with a droop. He's not quite as thorough about that as Elaine...

This cucco talk is worrying, but the Cucco Donation Jar spills no further secrets of the beast it represents.

Ida asks how Spheal can even live, and heedless of facetiously rhetorical questions, Chase begins typing on his phone with unusual speed. She's seen him spend minutes on one or two lines. Now he's got a paragraph in seconds to share:

<thick fat and fur for cold environments>
<fat also protects them from attack>
<they don't swim well but roll fast>
<so their natural habitat is living on ice more than water>
<it's said they could cross entire oceans that way>
<they're very soft and like plump beans>
<exploring doesn't need to be official>

Whoops, that last one is for Emeralda. It just ended up in there.

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Remedy has a visitor, it seems. Nina reaches out a paw to inspect. It takes her a second to notice - but when she does, she cranes her head down to Nina's level, curiosity in her eyes and with an inquisitive 'kweh?'. Remedy has met Jacqueline's Pokemon companions already, but she still hasn't seen the vast majority of Pokemon. It's a whole new world for her - literally!

Jacqueline, meanwhile... watches fondly as Riesenlied is overwhelmed by cute creatures. Energy Nede truly is a dangerous thing to unleash on Filgaia...

Chase smiles broadly as Remedy appreciates the Poke Puffs he prepared, and in response, Jacqueline smiles back. She can understand that - it's always good to know one's hard work has been appreciated. And from something that isn't a Pokemon, no less...

With that, though, Jacqueline offers Riesenlied a small smile.

"It's doing incredibly. There are still some signs of the fighting here and there... but, everyone's really breathed new life back into it. It's doing better than I ever could've hoped." She replies. Her smile softens, though. "...I understand. I know it must be difficult. If you ever want to see it for yourself... Let me know, okay? I can go with you, if you want someone to be there."

Mikaia grins, and Jacqueline laughs sheepishly, massaging the back of her neck. She's blushing just a bit, though, as Mikaia mentions how Lunata was inspired.

"Really? She was...?" Jacqueline replies. Helping Lunata find something she loves so much... "...It makes me kind of happy to hear that."

<Pose Tracker> Elhaym van Houten has posed.

 
Elly, after her moneychanging, says, "Yes - three heads! I wish I'd taken a photo I could show you, but -- well, I didn't. He's gotten quite big!"

And will get bigger yet, if he eats Hammer.

At Emeralda's brief explanation of Pokemon, Elly nods along. "They're very important to people in Nede," she explains to Mikaia. "Beyond that, it's hard for me to say much, except that -- hm -- you could say in a sense, they're Nede's real 'technology.'"

Insightful? Or is she making shit up?

After this, though, Emeralda calls her attention to Chase, and to his Pokedex. She smiles a little at what Lily says -- but as she bites into her cinnamon bun, she has a sudden insight that Lily is not kidding in the slightest. However, with a mouth full of carbs, Elly cannot exclaim.

And then he's tapping on his --

"Oh, and they do have those little tablets," Elly tells Mikaia. "Those might be worth using." Elly, of course, knows what a telephone is, but having a whole separate, smaller tablet to call people with? Ridiculous. (If Elly had come up Second Class, she'd think differently, for sure.)

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

"Doin' alright," Hannah says to Lily. "Was hopin' to get here in time to help set up, but I s'pose I can find somethin' else to do to pitch in." She's not being forced to not work today, though... she does work a lot. She could probably use more breaks.

Hannah happily gives pets then, though she only gives Aurora a few since she doesn't seem as receptive to it. Ida's been busy working. "Know the feelin'. That makes Sal a..." Hannah searches her memory. "... Butterfree, right?" She evolved during an attack from a Ten Wise Man's pokemon... "That was the attack over in Marze, right...? I should head out that way sometime, Susanna's been in the area. Still, good on Sal! I'm happy for her!"

Hannah chuckles at the pokemon convention comment. "I mean, they are all mighty adorable, ain't they?" (Hannah has some reservations about the technology that made them but has at least come around to the individual specimen.) "Cassandra's an Absol," Hannah supplies. "Met her over at Curan Abbey and... well it was a whole thing. I'll get into it later."

Cassandra seems to be roaming around, sniffing and examining all the manner of interesting new creatures here. This includes the various beastfolk, and she walks her way up to Shige to give her a curious look. "Ab?" But when Riese speaks to her, she turns to look at the Hyadean curiously, and then slowly nods her head. "Absol." There is a grateful look towards Hannah.

Hannah is very huggy, and will happily give Noeline a hug as well. Weedle looks up to Noeline curiously. "Weee?" Hannah chuckles, "'Pokemon' encompasses all of the creatures in Energy Nede's biome. They kinda got the same amount of diversity as 'animals' do here on Filgaia and Lunar. Think there's over... 1000 they got cataloged, currently?"

"Well, they're like insects, yeah... their taxonomy don't work quite the same way as ours? They're both Bug-type pokemon--Eimi's Bug and Poison, in fact, but they ain't gonna harm anyone--and Cassandra's Dark type. It's..." Hannah gestures with her hands for a moment. "Well, we can get into the details later. They got some words we do, though? Like Caterpie is known as a Worm pokemon, even though she looks like a caterpillar, an' Rapidash is the Fire Horse pokemon, but I think that's just descriptive?" Hannah looks to Ida. "You havin' any better luck makin' sense of their taxonomy conventions?"

Agapi is off exploring--or rather, off to find pokemon delicacies, because the scent of poke puffs are in the air. She takes off towards chase's table--but stops and turns every so often to encourage Eimi, who seems a little uncertain around everyone. But eventually they make it to Chase's table together.

Zephyr is eyeing that piece of brownie in Emeralda's hand intently...

But out of nowhere Hannah glances over her shoulder. "Sorry, Miss Emeralda, but Zephyr's mostly a carnivore. He appreciates the thought, though!" There's a pointed look at Zephyr. Zephyr glares back and squawks a little grumpily.

Wait, how did Hannah know that was going on without looking?

"Howdy, Mister Aomori," Hannah greets Whit as he draws near, and then she pauses. "... You wouldn't happen to know an Anne Aomori, would you?"

<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.

        Ida glances at Riesenlied. She can only guess what was going through her mind as she saw that picture. "I'm certain you could," Ida says. "I bet they'd have some in that Safari Zone place, or maybe..." Where does Spheal live? Thankfully, Chase supplies the details! Ida glances down at his phone, and reads the offered text. "They roll," she says, her face lighting up as she imagines a whole group of Spheals rolling across an ice floe. HOW IS THIS NEDE'S ENTIRE BIOSPHERE SO TRAGIC, SO TERRIFYING, AND SO PRECIOUS ALL AT ONCE

        "Yes, she's a Butterfree," says Ida, as Hannah drags her back to reality. "And yes, it was." Riese asks about the Wise Men's Pokemon. "They do," Ida says, and her lips twist as though she'd just tasted something rancid. "And they treat them very poorly." Raphael's treatment of Iron Bundle is still fresh in her mind. Sal stops eating her Puff for a moment and pats her Trainer's shoulder. "But thankfully, that kind of behavior is vanishingly rare on Nede proper."

        Sal's antennae wiggle at Riesenlied's praise, and she lets out a cheerful trill.

        Ida, a professionally-trained taxonomist, just shakes her head when Hannah asks her to comment. "Entirely different set of rules," she says. "But..."

        Something moves at Ida's hip, beneath her coat. She trails off in mid-sentence, reaches down, and pulls something free--a sphere about the size of a golf ball, which rapidly grows in size as Ida cradles it in her hand. It has a swirled gold-and-green top and white bottom. "Do you want to come out, little one?" Ida asks. She aims the ball at the ground at Riesenlied's feet, and taps the button on one side.

        In a flash of blue light, another Pokemon appears. It's about the size of Aurora, vaguely reptilian, and... puppy-like, in its proportions. Some sort of biomechanical red crest grows from its back. The young Psynymph--a fledgling, just barely old enough to leave the nest for good--reaches up and puts a tiny paw on Riesenlied's draconic foot.

        The Psynymph practically radiates a desire for peaceful, gentle contact on every psychic wavelength. Ida, who is no more psychic than average, kneels down beside him and gently pets his head. (Aurora and Marigold hop over to assume sisterly guard duty.) "And this is Erasmus," Ida says. "I wasn't sure if he wanted to come out, with so many people here..."

<Pose Tracker> Emeralda Kasim has posed.

To Emeralda, who has eyes in the back of her head (not literally, but she can look out of more places than the front of her head with a bit of effort), Hannah spotting something without looking passes without comment.

"Sorry," she says to Zephyr, instead, then. "I don't have any meat. I don't think there's any jerky in my pockets..." She pauses to check. There isn't. Emeralda doesn't especially like jerky (too salty), so she doesn't normally carry much around.

Sadly, Emeralda cannot turn into anything shaped like Chaya to demonstrate. Nor can Echo, especially since they've never met. Emeralda's best talent for showing what people look like is a failure!!

Oh well.

Emeralda cranes her head to get a better look at the Pokedex, because she's never seen one close up before, and this means she completely accidentally (or not completely accidentally; maybe Chase was more perceptive than he'd even thought) reads the message for her.

"For sure!" she agrees. "I've been exploring since I was really little. There's a lot a lot out in the world, and I wouldn't want to just... not see it...?" Emeralda trails off. "Anyway, there's other reasons too. But I love exploring! Nede's great to look around on, too."

She sticks out her hand to Chase. "I'm Emeralda," she says. That he's using his tablet to communicate does not seem to bother her, nor slow her down very much. Seems normal enough to her.

MEANWHILE

A coin slowly slides into the cucco bin. This is because Cirea is standing behind it and hefting it in, or was; she drops off the table and vanishes beneath it afterwards.

About twenty seconds after that, a whirling green tornado about six inches tall whirls around a rather overstuffed chocolate custard donut and, very slowly, lifts it into the air. The now-flying donut begins to make its escape from the plate it's been placed on.

<Pose Tracker> Whit Aomori has posed.

"She's my Mom!" Whit announces to Hannah proudly. He has no idea about his Mom's underworld connections. He's young and innocent and idealistic -- not the best preparation for a broken world like Filgaia. "How do you know her??"

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige's reaction to being called out is about what one would expect of a startled cat. She can't help out. She doesn't jump too high at least. She does slowly reach into her bag and offers it up one handed, "Just brandy today. Didn't-" she trails off. There's a few mixed feelings there. She pushes them down after quietly digging a claw into her free hand, "Didn't want to make a mess." She sounds a little more confident. She also sounds like she's reading from a script somehow. It's a start. She takes a few halting steps that turn into easier steps. Thoughts bouncing around in her head before she offers the flask over wordlessly. Easier that way.
 
 She does at least enjoy the distraction that are a pair doing shape shifting and other antics. And then Cassandra wanders up to her. "Ab?" she asks, slightly confused. Glancing down.
 
 At least those were words. Kinda. She does turn last second and shakes the flask, "Y-you can have a drink." She's trying, still!

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        Noeline's link with Riesenlied gets extremely confused for a moment, as the usual scope of their shared feeling suddenly extends outwards to an entirely different plane. It leaves her reeling a little with the sheer force of roundness behind it, or perhaps around it, before everything suddenly snaps back to something like reality.

        "I do not know what you mean," she primly notes at being called dour, though there's a smile on her face as she lightly needles Riesenlied. "I am sure that cuccos would get on like a house on fire--" It's too late. Riesenlied has turned a truly pleading look in her direction, and of all her many weaknesses, this one is truly the most critical (hit). She's transfixed by it for a moment, gasping for what her next words should be before giving in to a soft chuckle. "They are, I suppose. I think it probably does a lot of people good to have some companionship on the road, for that matter."

        She blinks a little at Chase. She might not have Riesenlied's extra-sensory abilities, but she is a mother of a great many orphans, and she's long understood what a hitch of the shoulders like that means. She meets it with an amused laugh, shaking her head. "No, no. If I am annoyed at anyone, it is whichever organization provides these. I suppose the point is for you to fill it, then? In which case, the fact some are still empty means you're still learning."

        Her own shoulders ease a little as Jay tells them that Adlehyde is doing well. She doesn't have quite the same anxiety over returning there as Riese does, but it's still good to hear these things. "Do you think they would--" 'mind us being there', is how she was planning to finish that sentence. But she knows that's not something she can ask Jay, optimism aside. It's not her job to answer for the rest of the city.

        She decides to take a chunk out of slice of chocolate cake instead. She might not be able to avoid Riesenlied's eyes, but she's exhibiting extreme proficiency at tanking any Pokemon that whine at her for some.

        "I am no biologist, I must admit," Noeline notes to Hannah with a wry smile. "Still, it does leave me wondering where the difference comes from, what makes something a Pokemon and something else a monster. If there is any difference at all, even. ... maybe I'm just a pedant," she snorts at herself with a smile. "Though there does seem to be-- quite a level of intelligence amongst them all that surpasses Filgaia." She glances to Ida as she says this, with a half-shrug for good measure.

        Taxonomy is not exactly her remit, and certainly never was when she was a spy. Her eye has always been towards people instead.

<Pose Tracker> Avril Vent Fleur has posed.

        "Yes, they said that they would take over after us," Avril explains even as she leans forward, perhaps having noticed the advance of a singular large purple rat from beneath the bottom of the booth. "Ah--"

        Whatever she had been about to say dies on the vine for here, pun intended, there approaches a large red tomato. It has eyes. And a mouth full of sharp glinting teeth. Avril turns her head towards it. "Oh--"

        "You are one of Kaguya's, are you not?" she asks, at most mildly startled by the approach of the vegetative monstrosity.

        "Mistress. Kaguya. is. waylaid." intones the sin against god. "Taking. over. booth. duties."

        "Oh, I see," Avril remarks, as if this were a quite normal turn of events. "Now that I think of it, I haven't seen her since she dropped off the ingredients." Folding her arms over her midsection, she seems briefly contemplative of this turn of events. "Well, then I shall leave it to you."

        HORRIBLE TOMATO TAKES OVER SUGAR COOKIE BOOTH...!

        Dipping out from behind the booth, Avril is at last able to detain her wayward Pokemon, stooping to scoop up Nina before she can discover the power of CHOCOBO METEOR (well, probably not... Remedy is not red). "Please, Nina, don't do that," she reprimands Nina, turning towards Riesenlied with a large rat in her arms.

        "This is Nina," she says, rather belatedly. "We are friends."

        "Ta," says a somewhat beleagured Nina, who nonetheless doesn't make any attempts to escape Avril's grasp.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

        "I'm looking forward to it!" Mikaia seems so proud of Emeralda. "If she's teaching you... maybe she can point out some tricks in turn to you as well?" She's not sure how it works between shapeshifters. But if they're practicing the arts together...

        Whit arrives with interest in Jay's chocobo, and Riesenlied moves out of the way so that Remedy can have the shot to herself. But he also inquires about her afterwards, and she bobs her head to say, "Ah-- my name is Riesenlied, and I am in charge of the Wayside Outreach, yes... though, I must say, Val would be more appropriate as the town representative for New Wayside, given that I have been absent for years here. We travel the world to improve the material conditions of those who are affected by war, famine, or conditions of poverty and social imbalances."

        A Pokeball in Chase's belt momentarily flares with rage, and Riesenlied ponders what sort of devil must rest within...?!

        "I am certain," Riesenlied reassures Chase when Noeline points out that it isn't filled, "that fulfilling all the entires within an encyclopedia such as that is no easy or swift task -- observing even one species of animal may well take months, after all. But that you have such an interest in Pokemon... I can sense your passion, young one. Thank you for showing me such wonders."

        Then, SPHEAL FACTS.

        "T-t-they roll fast..." Riesenlied's composure cracks again, as she imagines it in her head, possibly at the same time Ida is:

        roll roll roll roll roll

        "M-mom, hold fast!" Mikaia takes a standard action to heal Riesenlied's social HP. Riesenlied recovers at the last moment!

        Riesenlied nods a bit more gently to Jacqueline -- still, the signs of the fighting remain, but... Jacqueline offers something she didn't quite expect (even though she should -- that's self-chastisement for you). "I... I would like that, yes."

        Mikaia nods as well to the alchemist. "She was going on about how when she was little, she watched you boil down herbs and roots together to make potions... and then realised, making broths and soups was much the same thing!"

        Riesenlied gently nods to Hannah again as she explains the taxonomy of Pokemon, and how she met her at Curan Abbey. "Oh, so you went further south...?" But later. There's a smile to Cassandra, then back to Hannah. "So everything there is a Pokemon... and a 'Bug-type Pokemon' is not the same thing as an insect. How interesting!"

        Ida's comment on how the Wise Men don't treat their Pokemon well is... not surprising, but one that gets a rise out of Riesenlied nonetheless. But there's another companion that wants to come out! Erasmus the Psynymph, and--

        Much like Lily's Clefairy before, there's an instant ping in her mind, and Riesenlied closes her eyes and focuses that gentleness back in turn, briefly emanating as an aura around her. It's like a miniature positive rainbow.

        "My... if I did not know better, I almost feel like I am meeting one of my own," Riesenlied admits bashfully. Well, people have rode you into battle too, Riesenlied...

        "Do take your time," Riesenlied reassures Erasmus. "No one will hurt you here."

        Somewhere, Muni-Muni (who is napping just off-screen) groks awake for a half-second and sees a flying doughnut, and then decides she must still be half asleep and keeps on sleeping. "Muniii..."

        ... is Muni a Pokemon, to Chase and the others?

        "Naw, no mess, no fuss," Val encourages Shige. "You should see the drunken lot of us on Poker nights! Ha ha ha!" Shige's offering, though, so she somehow takes the flag and chugs it and...

        How does it... manoeuvre, in her Refrigerator stomach? Maybe she's just adding it to her potent demon vodka mixture (now with brandy).

        "Drop by the inn sometime, yeah? I got a feeling you know your way around drinks!"

        There is... a Killer Tomato! Riesenlied looks on, intrigued, especially as she speaks! "O-oh... well, thank you, Mister Tomato, for taking over the post!"

        Perhaps it's one of those cute Mana Tomato-Men...

        Avril introduces Nina, and Riesenlied -- despite her type -- looks adored at Rattata regardless. "Hehe... my my," she bobs her head. "You are a particularly cheeky one, are you not? I have no doubt you will get along well with Avril."

        "A chimera, with three heads!" Mikaia gasps, on the topic of Chaya. "Cool!" Nothing is terrifying to Mikaia now. She's of the age now where she's only one Nedian smartphone away from learning how to post her drawings of chimeradragons and her knight princess OCs on Lifejournal.

        Take heed, Noeline!!

        However, TRAGEDY is about to strike.

        Elly points out the existence of smartphones to Mikaia, and then, without the slightest bit of suspicion of how devastating such a device can be, turns to Noeline:

        "Can I have one too, mom?"

        Months later, Mikaia insists on being called that dreadmost of beings to lurk through the cyberworld... a GAMER.

        Welcome to the Internet, Mikaia. (Bad Ending I)

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VSCJAWEPRo

                                 MAIN DIRECTOR
                                                                               
                                 Sheriff Star

        record scratch noise

        But, after giving Noeline the doe eyes...

        "I--I would like a Pokemon too...!" Riesenlied exclaims, thoroughly defeated by all the cuteness around her, now that tragedy has been averted. She has been thoroughly convinced!

        "T-though, we have more than enough to keep our hands full here already..." Look, she's trying to convince herself out of it already.

        "Gosh. It's too bad that mom can't do her work for another week because she has a SPECIAL PROCUREMENT to do, we'll just have to keep busy here," Mikaia speaks out loud.

        When did she get so sassy??

<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.

        There's a record scratch of her own in Noeline's head, and she slowly looks between Riesenlied and Mikaia with abject confusion. Something tells her she should put her hands up in surrender, but she manages to curb that impulse. "So that I am completely clear here - because Riesenlied must avoid work for a week, you are sending us to get you a communication device, and her a new pet," she clarifies slowly.

        "... well, it wouldn't be vacation days without a vacation," she adds with a hum as she mulls it over. "And I have to admit, my curiosity is now extremely piqued."

        Probably around the same time that Noeline realized she had a small co-conspirator in guilting Riese out of working herself to the bone.

<Pose Tracker> Hannah Curie has posed.

Nede is good at being both precious and terrifying. (Hannah is working through the terrifying part--their technology level is... staggering, compared to the likes of Filgaia and Lunar. Even when you consider some of the lost technology lurking in digs and ruins.)

The taxonomy of pokemon might have to wait for another day.

Hannah gives Ida a look as she pulls out another pokeball, and summons out--Hannah's eyes go wide. "Wait, is that--" She's fumbling for something in her satchel, and pulls out a small, flat black rectangle with rounded corners. (It's way too advanced for Filgaian tech, but oddly enough not as advanced as Chase's Pokedex.) The screen lights up, she taps at it and points it at Ida's pokemon...

And an entry for a Psynymph comes up.

"My word, Ida... you gotta tell me that story later."

Zephyr chirps sadly at the lack of jerky. But he doesn't seem to begrudge Emeralda for it, at least. He takes off into the air and does a swooping loop around Emeralda and Echo both with a happy chirp, then swerves to form a figure 8 by looping around Mikaia with another happy chirp, and then goes over to land on Hannah's shoulder and give her a very expectant look.

"All's we got is the jerky. If you can wait I can go find a butcher, else it's up to you to go hunt."

Zephyr seems to consider this and then takes off again, heading for the city limits. Hunting it is, then.

Hannah smiles to Whit. "Oh, I've been doin' odd jobs for her. Me n' Ida--" she indicates her friend with a tilt of her head "--both have, actually. Helpin' with care an' feeding, secretarial tasks, minor things like that. Been really helpful with us in gettin' our footin' on Nede, too."

Cassandra tilts her head curiously at Shige. "Sol, absol?" She then leans in to nuzzle reassuringly at Shige's leg. (With the side of her head that doesn't have the dangerous horn on it, thankfully), trying to offer some moral support.

Noeline mentions companionship on the road, and Hannah nods to that. "If I hadn't had Zephyr with me those five years I was on my own..." Well, she'd probably be in a lot worse of a place. (Also, she had a cute animal sidekick before it was trendy!)

Hannah perks up. "Oh, the difference is easy. They're the native wildlife to Energy Nede, first of all, an' they all got Symbological powers of some type or another. Like Echo's shapeshiftin'." She pauses. "But they don't have tattoos because--" Reconsiders. "Let's get into that another time."

Hannah nods to Riese. "I did. Needed to restock on supplies for crest sorcery, since all my reference materials and materials are in Klein." She rubs at the back of her head a little. "Kinda handy havin' some connections, I suppose." But then she nods. "That's 'bout the size of it. Most of the bug-type pokemon do resemble somethin' we'd recognize as lookin' insect-like, though."

Mikaia and Riese both seem to be entranced by things of Energy Nede, and Hannah chuckles. "Well, I'd be willin' to serve as a guide... Most pokemon are fairly intelligent, and they're great companions and they can can be handy helpers, too... but first I'm gonna go get me a snack."

She gets Agapi and Eimi their poke puffs, as well as one for Cassandra, and for herself snags a brownie, along with a very generous donation for all four items... and then promptly puts herself to work helping out with various things at the bake sale.

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

They roll, both Ida and Riesenlied echo. Chase's Pikachu demonstrates Spheal behavior by casually rolling herself across the bake sale in the background of the conversation. "Pipipipi..."

Chase's high from getting to explain a Pokemon becomes threatened by all the attention in the room, direct and indirect. He forgets, constantly, that Filgaia does not have Nede's technology. He needs to be more careful about using it in the open, doesn't he?

People are also trying to explain Pokemon, which feels like something he should speak about, but he doesn't understand the comparisons himself yet. It seems others still aren't clear on all the distinctions, either. It's as Noeline says. He's still learning, and he nods at that.

Emeralda gets his message accidentally but fortunately, and does not flinch at his use of the tech. He looks to her offered hand, hesitating as he considers the probability that gesture might be different on Filgaia than Nede, but ventures the risk of a handshake. Instead of giving a name, he shows his Trainer ID. Handy...!

But bake sales are a lot... He's got to focus on one thing at a time and breathe. Pikachu finishes her rolling and climbs onto Chase's shoulder, lifting a paw to greet everyone AGAIN. "Piii pikachu!"

Well, maybe she can tank socializing people for him while he focuses more on Pokemon. At least for a bit...

<Pose Tracker> Shige Kiwako has posed.

Shige idly reaches down to stroke at the Absol. The errant thought that it's a strange dog running through her head, but she doesn't voice it. She seems friendly enough after all and it's not she's in bad company.
 
 Also Shige's not going to question the dubious cocktail currently brewing that would probaby double as rocket fuel if any of them knew the concept. Without thinking too much she does say absentmindedly at the mention of knowing her way around a bar, "For that cocktail you w-were.." She glances over, "I'd use pineapple juice to cut it." Not that she has the real name for that particular joke!
 
 "I uh. Do bartend. Yes." She nods. Quickly. Trying to talk normally. It's not coming. She feels like an idiot somewhere.
 
 Still, she does eventually add softly, "I can swing by, sure." Less confident, but less forced to. "I need to apologize anyway. It'll be easier doing a routine."

<Pose Tracker> Emeralda Kasim has posed.

Emeralda accepts this greeting from Chase.

Echo decides she wants in on this and sticks out one Ditto... limb. It's not really a hand. But the intention is clear.

<Pose Tracker> Chase has posed.

Unlike human (or humanlike) contact, Chase easily accepts a Ditto's limb for a shake without hesitation.